The Quest for the True Figure of the Earth: Ideas and Expeditions in Four Centuries of Geodesy

ISBN-13: 9781138277700 / Angielski / Miękka / 2024 / 288 str.

Michael Rand Hoare

Opis

In the 1730s two expeditions set out from Paris on extraordinary journeys, the first to Peru, the second towards the Arctic Circle. Their primary objectives were scientific: to determine the Earth's precise shape. Although such information had consequences for navigation and cartography, the motivation was not simply utilitarian. Rather it was part of an intellectual revolution in which advances in mathematics paralleled philosophical strife, and reputations of the living and the dead stood to be elevated or destroyed. In this study, the 'Figure of the Earth' controversy is for the first time comprehensively explored in all its several dimensions.

Recenzje

'I recommend it as a reliable and readable account of one of the most interesting episodes in the history of science in eighteenth-century France.' International Journal of Maritime History ’This book addresses an audience of historians, geodesists but also clearly a much broader audience, thanks to its numerous illustrations, and clever use of notes per chapter and annex, allowing the author to tell this story, mixing complex scientific issues and controversies [...], true adventures in remote and hostile countries as well as human courage and ingenuity... For readers more familiar with geodesy, this book is specially appealing because it does not only describe the human adventures related to these expeditions, as well as the famous scientists, involved [...] but it also addresses some technical issues not often discussed in historical literature: availability of new instruments [...], data reduction and processing.’ Journal of Geodesy ’This book, published in the series 'Science, Technology and Culture, 1700-1945', is a valuable addition to the history of geodesy... It is a good read and contains valuable information also for professional historians of science interested in eighteenth-century geodesy or the complex character of Enlightenment science in general.’ Nuncius ’[Hoare] has made full use of eighteenth-century publications in several languages, but has also done a wonderful job of bringing the story to life. He is especially good at explaining the fundamentals of the geodetic procedures and his book is generously illustrated with period engravings... the book will be far more appealing to readers of H-France than one might guess from the title of the book. It is warmly recommended to anyone interested in Enlightenment history.’ H-France ’Well-written and carefully produced, The Quest for the True Figure of the Earth is an exciting book that makes science come to life.’ Pure and Applied Geophysics ’Le livre est très agréable à

Spis treści

Contents: Author's preface; A dispute in the making; Prelude to an odyssey; Some technicalities; The Lapland expedition; The Peru expedition; Meanwhile in Paris; Death and deliverance; A grievous aftermath; Once more unto the Meridian; A modern postscript; Appendices; Select reading list; Index.

O autorze

Dr Michael Rand Hoare is Emeritus Reader at the University of London, UK.